The Election Commission yesterday issued guidelines for marking of postal votes for the Parliamentary election 2020.
Several alterations have been made to the guidelines as per the health regulations issued by the Health Director General due to COVID-19 pandemic.The Election Commission stated that all Certifying Officers have been informed through Returning Officers that all necessary facilities be made available for postal voters to exercise their franchise at their respective stations at the election.
Accordingly, the EC said that, “Since the staff of the Offices of Medical Officer of Health, is assigned with the task to supervise the compliance to health guidelines issued to control the spread of COVID-19 pandemic at work stations of all public institutions/statutory boards/security forces where postal votes will be marked on July 14,15,16 and 17, marking of postal votes at only the Offices of Medical Officer of Health will be held from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m, on July 13. Marking of postal votes at the public institutions other than at Police Stations, Security Forces camps, Department of Civil Security and in the health sector and at all District Secretariats and District Election Offices, will be held from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. on July 14 and 15, 2020.”
The Election Commission also said that, “Due to engagement in providing security and ensuring and supervision of compliance to health guidelines at postal voting centers, marking of postal votes at all Police Stations, Security Forces Camps, Department of Civil Security and in the health sector and at all District Secretariats and District Election Offices will be held from 09.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. on the July 16,2020 and from 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. on July 17, 2020.”
“In terms of the healthcare guidelines issued under controlled COVID -19 pandemic situation safety measures such as social distancing, wearing facemasks and hand sanitization should be followed and it would be appropriate to being a blue/black pen to mark the ballot,” the Election Commission stated.
As per the guidelines issued by the Election Commission, each candidate may appoint an agent and each observer organization may appoint an observer in order to observe the marking of the postal ballots, at offices of the Certifying Officers. “People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) and Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) have been granted permission to observe the postal voting. No employee of the office of the Certifying Official can function as an agent of any recognized political party/independent group or observer organization to observe the marking of postal votes at his work station.” it furthered.
“Taking photographs of or videoing the marking of postal ballots, the postal voting centers and their premises is prohibited. No person shall commit any of the offenses as stipulated in the elections law at postal voting centers. Inspector General of Police has been requested to render assistance in order to ensure the smooth functioning of the process at the office of the Certifying Officer, when the assistance of the police is requested by any Certifying Officer or any officer deployed by the Returning Officer to observe,” the notice on marking postal ballots furthered.
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